Dadhocha Dam Among Top 4 Water Sector Projects Receive ECNEC Approval

on 05/08/2024

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar this month, approved four water sector projects.
Among these is the Government of Punjab’s project, “Construction of Dadhocha Dam (revised).”
According to a press release from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, “The project aims to address water deficiencies in Rawalpindi by supplying 35 MGDs of water.”
Dadhocha Dam will be located near Dadhocha village in Rawalpindi. The dam will have a storage capacity of 60,000 acre-feet, with a dead level of 15,000 acre-feet. It is considered crucial for meeting the water needs of Rawalpindi and its surrounding areas.
Initially proposed in 2001 with an estimated cost of Rs. 7 billion, construction of the dam was awarded to the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) in 2020.
In August 2015, a report was submitted to the Supreme Court by the Punjab Irrigation Department, assuring that the dam would be built at its original site, which is included in the master plan of DHA Valley, Islamabad.
On January 27, 2016, the Rawalpindi district administration instructed the Punjab Irrigation Department to resume construction of the stalled Dadhocha Dam to resolve issues with Defence, Islamabad-Rawalpindi.
In January 2021, individuals affected by the dam project held a public gathering and peaceful march to express concerns about displacement without proper rehabilitation. They demanded increased compensation rates for their lands and the development of a resettlement plan.
Additionally, the ECNEC approved the Upgradation of Pakistan Railways’ existing Main Line-1 (ML-1) and directed that Phase I of the project, covering 929 km from Karachi to Multan, be prioritized.
The ECNEC also approved the “Flood Response Emergency Housing Project (Phase-I),” to be funded through an Asian Development Bank loan. This project aims to support over 250,000 flood-affected people in Sindh by reconstructing flood-resilient houses through community-led efforts.
Other water sector projects approved include the Gomal Zam Multipurpose Project, the Raising of Mangla Dam Project, and the Golen Gol Hydropower Project, all of which are now progressing towards completion.
Furthermore, the forum approved the “Development of Integrated Transit Trade Management System,” envisioning the construction of state-of-the-art border crossing points at Torkham, Chaman, and Wahga, establishment of the Land Port Authority, and digital end-to-end tracking of containerized cargo.
ECNEC also extended the implementation period of the “Karachi Neighborhood Improvement Project (KNIP)” by six months to December 31, 2024. This project aims to enhance the accessibility, usability, and attractiveness of public spaces such as roads, streets, parks, open spaces, and public buildings in selected neighborhoods of Karachi.
Lastly, ECNEC approved the Construction of a Border Terminal at the Pakistan-Afghanistan Border in Badini and the upgrade of a 40-km road from Murgha Faqirzai to Khan Dagar on the Main Badini Road in district Saifullah.

PEC Elections 2024 TEP, PEG-NEA begin exercises; Najeeb busy cobbling alliance

on 05/08/2024

The alliance between the Professional Excellence Group (PEG) and the National Engineers Alliance (NEA) has created an interesting situation for engineers and their groups across Pakistan. Waseem Nazir and Qadir Shah, leading their respective groups, struggled to forge an alliance, which consequently led other groups and influential engineers, including the Pakistan Engineers Forum (PEF) to rethink their positions in the elections.
Before the PEG-NEA alliance, Waseem Nazir’s negotiating team was in talks with PEF for jointly contesting elections, while Qadir Shah and his team were on the verge of closing doors on Jawed Salim Qureshi’s The Engineers Pakistan (TEP). However, TEP’s core committee did not approve of picking Qadir Shah as the joint candidate for the chairman’s post.
Interestingly, despite the majority belief within Qadir Shah’s group that Shah cannot win the election as chairman independently, they are supporting a non-NEA leader for the chairman of the council once again. Before supporting Waseem Nazir, Qadir Shah’s group had agreed to back Najeeb Haroon as chairman, aligning with the Constructors Association of Pakistan (CAP) and personalities like Dr. Niaz Akhtar. Equally interesting is the fact that both Najeeb Haroon and Waseem Nazir hail from PEG.
NEA had opened talks with Jawed Salim Qureshi who, according to Shah’s engineers, had agreed to throw his weight behind Shah for the top slot but stepped back later. Behind-the-scenes discussions apart, prospects of the Shah-Qureshi alliance had sparked widespread discussions in the engineering fraternity, much like the talk after Shah’s alliance with Waseem Nazir. After an unsuccessful attempt with Jawed Salim Qureshi, Shah’s group found itself in a challenging situation and apparently had two options. ‘One, Shah should fight alone and lose the elections; and two, he should stand behind Najeeb yet again and lose,’ says one of his close associates. He said Waseem Nazir was the best solution in the given circumstances for winning the elections.
The NEA-PEG alliance, a senior TEP engineer says, will force Jawed Salim Qureshi to work hard and lure more and more engineers for support. Although Punjab would be the real battleground, the group has to seriously look into issues in Sindh—the second-largest province of Pakistan—where TEP has to face the Qadir Shah group now with Waseem Nazir.
Before falling for Waseem Nazir, NEA had some solid and some wavering support for Najeeb Haroon, who had hopes that his erstwhile allies would back him for the second tenure. ‘It was Qadir Shah who refused in point blank to stand alongside Najeeb,’ revealed an NEA leader.
Najeeb Haroon, the incumbent chairman of the council, is faced with a challenge to cobble together remaining groups and personalities for shaping a coalition that could be as influential as TEP and NEA. He is looking towards Ashfaq Shah, PEF, estranged associates of Waseem Nazir, and influential engineers, attempting to forge a kind of arrangement. Among them, any alliance with Ashfaq Shah may be a distant possibility for Najeeb Haroon, as Shah is reportedly adamant about his stance on the chairman’s post.
The PEG-NEA alliance has not only affected Najeeb Haroon’s calculations; PEF also has to rethink their strategy as the group was reportedly in advanced talks with the PEG team. They must be reevaluating the situation and weighing their options: supporting Najeeb Haroon, Ashfaq Shah, or going alone. In the 2021 elections, PEF was part of the National Engineers Alliance but withdrew at the last minute, claiming betrayal over seat allocations in the governing body. PEF leaders assert they had signed an agreement with Najeeb Haroon, which he did not honor.
Now, with Najeeb Haroon being one of three options, PEF must make a decision in the coming days. Whether they will be able to make a significant impact remains to be seen, as PEF may not support Ashfaq Shah, being a smaller group for the chairman’s post.
This week’s update: Engr. Waseem Nazir, leading the Professional Excellence Group (PEG), and Engr. Qadir Shah, leading the National Engineers Association (NEA), have decided to jointly contest the PEC Elections 2024 scheduled for August 18. The new alliance has announced that Engr. Nazir will be the coalition’s candidate for the post of Chairman, and Engr. Raghib Shah for Senior Vice Chairman.
The top leadership of PEG and NEA met in Karachi to forge an alliance for the upcoming Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) Elections 2024, as stated in today’s NEA press release. Recognizing the importance of unity over individual ambitions, NEA and PEG have decided to merge their efforts and contest the elections under the unified banner of PEG-NEA.
The press release reads: “This collaboration combines the wealth of local experience with the innovative perspectives of global thought leaders. Together, they aim to transform PEC into a dynamic, forward-looking organization that meets international benchmarks and standards.” Engr. Waseem Nazir has been nominated as the joint candidate for Chairman, while Engr. Raghib Abbas Shah will stand for Senior Vice Chairman. Candidates for the remaining positions of vice chairmen of all provinces and members will be announced shortly.

Uncertainty surrounding PEC election date sparks widespread debate

on 04/07/2024

“The alliance fever that had gripped the friends and foes of Engr. Abdul Qadir Shah and Engr. Jawed Saleem Qureshi’s groups for the last few months has finally receded to a great degree. It seems that both, or at least one, has started to return to normal. As a result, both groups are likely to go their separate ways, and the rest of the groups are also expected to review their strategies for the PEC Elections 2024.”
“Both Engr. Shah and Engr. Qureshi, along with their intermediaries, maintained contact despite the latter’s core group never favoring support for the former, especially for the office of chairman. Engr. Qureshi’s core group believes they would suffer the most if they were to endorse Engr. Qadir Shah for the top office. Engr. Qureshi’s top lieutenants claim the negotiation process for the alliance, which aimed to promote Engr. Qadir Shah as the joint candidate for chairman, has broken down. Nevertheless, both groups can discuss a joint effort to resolve issues concerning engineers and the engineering industry in Pakistan.”
Now, with the alliance between two well-known groups appearing increasingly distant, one — TEP — has begun finalizing its panel, while the other — NEA — is contemplating whether to retain Engr. Qadir Shah as their candidate for the chairman’s post. The assessment suggests that no major group would endorse Engr. Shah for the top position. However, the consolidation of smaller groups, including one led by Engr. Ashfaq Shah, may work in his favor. Additionally, the situation may compel NEA to reconsider its earlier decision not to ally with Engr. Najeeb Haroon, whose political party is reportedly striving to gain support from PPP and PML-N circles for a second term in office. While the PPP-PML-N alliance is reportedly concluded, the outcome of MQM’s efforts remains to be seen.
“In a scenario where smaller groups of engineers in Pakistan have gained importance across all four provinces, larger groups are actively engaged in the field. For instance, the Pakistan Engineers Forum (PEF), led by Engr. Al Kazim Mansoor, has been proactive in organizing its strength while engaging with smaller groups and influential engineers nationwide. PEF leaders Engr. Mansoor and Engr. Imtiaz Shah have visited cities like Hyderabad and Nawabshah, believed to be supported by NEA, to garner support from engineers. PEF aims to make a difference in the upcoming elections, following a previous chapter that did not bring much fortune to the group.”
“Engr. Najeeb Haroon, as reports pour in, has been traveling across Pakistan and has actively launched his campaign in all four provinces. He has a long list of activities undertaken during his tenure that he believes are sufficient to convince engineers to vote for him for a second tenure. Many engineers in his circle still expect the NEA to return to his fold and revive the alliance that swept the elections in 2021.”
Like others, Engr. Waseem Nazir, leading a significant group of engineers in Pakistan—Pakistan Excellence Group (PEG)—has been busy meeting numerous groups to explore the possibility of support. Some engineers in Sindh say Engr. Nazir sees PEF as his ally, which they believe will bolster his position across the country, especially in Sindh and Punjab. PEF has already opened channels with Sindh-based Dr. Niaz Memon, who was the PEG candidate for the post of Vice Chairman Sindh against NEA candidate Engr. Mukhtiar Shaikh in previous elections.
Pakistan’s PEC Elections 2024 scenario is developing, but the exact date of the elections remains unclear. The last meeting of the PEC Governing Body (GB) failed to reach a consensus on the election date. One group of GB members, citing the PEC Act, insists that the election process must be completed two weeks before the date on which the winners of the 2021 Election were sworn in. However, another group, including the incumbent chairman, believes that weather patterns necessitate a one-month postponement of the elections. The council has sought the opinion of the Law Division on whether the elections can be delayed for this reason.
The uncertainty surrounding the election date has sparked widespread debate in engineering circles and groups. One such group, TEP, has stated that they will approach the court if the election schedule is not announced in the next few days.

Hydrogen Strategy 2025: Recommendations for Pakistan

on 04/07/2024

Pakistan’s energy future faces several significant threats. The country’s over-reliance on fossil fuels has led to resource depletion, while inefficiencies and outdated technologies in the energy sector contribute to substantial wastage. Water scarcity hampers hydroelectric power generation. Additionally, a lack of investment in infrastructure and technology impedes the development of indigenous sustainable energy solutions. Carbon emissions further threaten exports, as international markets like the European Union may ban products produced using fossil fuels. Pakistan’s hydrogen energy strategy, set to be issued in 2025 by the Ministry of Planning and Special Initiatives (MoP&SI), will be crucial to address these challenges.
Many countries are striving to achieve the objective of establishing hydrogen as a prominent, carbon-free energy source. Over 20 countries, including Japan, the European Union (EU) member states, the United Kingdom, the United States, China, Japan, and India, have announced their national hydrogen strategies. The EU aims to decarbonize hard-to-electrify sectors and reduce carbon emissions by 2030-2050, emphasizing public-private partnerships and significant investments in hydrogen infrastructure. Similarly, the UK’s strategy targets a substantial hydrogen economy by 2050, with plans for residential heating and various transport applications. China’s strategy includes shifting from coal-based to renewables-based hydrogen production and expanding hydrogen infrastructure. India’s ambitious National Green Hydrogen Mission targets energy independence by 2047 and carbon neutrality by 2070, with substantial investments and incentives to promote green hydrogen production and usage across multiple sectors with a focus on exporting hydrogen to Europe, especially Germany. These comprehensive strategies reflect a global commitment to advancing hydrogen fuels as a way to combat climate change. Pakistan is set to issue its strategy by 2025.
Currently, hydrogen production in Pakistan is primarily used as a raw material in fertilizers, a reducing agent in refineries, and for cooling generators in power plants. The country’s hydrogen production methods include steam methane reforming, cracking, reforming, and electrolysis. The electrolysis of water for hydrogen production is specific to power plants only. The Pilot projects for hydrogen electrolysis at Ghazi Barotha Dam and Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park are planned for 2026 and 2028, respectively. Oracle Power Company has also initiated a project to produce green hydrogen and ammonia using wind and solar power in Jhimpir.
The current status of hydrogen energy in Pakistan shows promising developments and potential for growth. A pre-feasibility study by NEECA recommends exploring seasonal hydrogen production and storage in salt caverns. The interesting point was that hydrogen generation from solar energy was estimated to be expensive due to tariff structure while the world insists on solar hydrogen production being the cheapest. In a symposium by the Pakistan Academy of Engineering (PAE) on Nuclear Hydrogen, a Representative from Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission nuclear hydrogen option is more feasible in Pakistan. Though there is no project about soon.
Irrespective of Tariff structure, Pakistan has significant opportunities in the realm of green hydrogen energy, particularly due to its abundant solar, and wind potential. The geopolitical shift towards reducing reliance on imported resources in Europe and the US, and advancements in hydrogen technology, creates a favourable environment for Pakistan to harness its renewable energy resources for hydrogen production. Additionally, with the development of fourth-generation nuclear reactors, Pakistan could simultaneously produce hydrogen and power.
However, several challenges need to be addressed to realize this potential. The cost of production, particularly the high cost of PEM electrolysers, is a significant hurdle. Hydrogen storage also poses challenges, with various methods like compressed gas, liquified gas, metal hydrides, and underground storage each having their own costs and logistical issues. Infrastructure development for distribution requires substantial investment and planning. Additionally, ensuring the safety of hydrogen handling and storage necessitates a comprehensive regulatory framework. Finally, the availability of water, its salinity, and its conditioning cost pose a significant challenge to realise Pakistan’s potential for hydrogen production. Despite these challenges, the strategic exploitation of renewable energy sources could position Pakistan as a key player in the global hydrogen economy.
To harness the potential while addressing challenges, I have the following suggestions for MoP&SI’s consideration.
Utilizing Waste and Seawater: Given Pakistan’s expected water scarcity, hydrogen production should focus on the pyrolysis of municipal waste, plastics, and using seawater and wastewater.
Developing Local Manufacturing: Establish a solar panel manufacturing plant by 2032 and an PEM/AEM/ SOEC electrolyser plant by 2040, with potential collaboration with China for a 1000 MT/year dust-resistant solar panel production facility and polysilicon production using local resources. Invest in developing local technologies for hydrogen production from water, waste, and biomass to promote a knowledge-based economy and job creation.
Private Sector Engagement: Encourage public-private partnerships to fund and bring expertise to the hydrogen industry.
Investing in a Hydrogen Centre: Create an engineering design and R&D centre focused on cost-effective hydrogen production, storage, and transportation, and study the compatibility of existing infrastructure like natural gas pipelines. Use effective Monitoring and evaluation Learning mechanisms for the improvement of service.
Substituting Imported Fuels: Focus on replacing methane with hydrogen in fertilizer production and developing hydrogen and coal-based power generation.
International Collaboration and Funding: Leverage Pakistan’s relationship with China under CPEC for mutually beneficial hydrogen projects and explore using nuclear energy for hydrogen production.
Exporting Hydrogen: Position Pakistan as a hydrogen exporter to Europe, negotiating investments in local manufacturing and renewable technologies in exchange for reliable and cost-effective hydrogen supplies. Consider collaboration with Germany for high-efficiency solar panels and human resource development.

Sales Blog for Young Engineers and Entrepreneurs How to succeed against tough competitors

on 04/07/2024

A big shot is a little shot that keeps on shooting, albeit differently!
In the electrifying world of sales, where every pitch is a battle and every client is a prize, there is a legend about a young and ambitious salesperson named Junaid. Working for a company that provided turn key energy solutions, Junaid faced massive competition from industry giants. Guided by his wise mentor and armed with newfound strategies learnt at IBA Karachi, Junaid faced his adversaries and achieved his due share of success. Here’s his captivating journey, broken down into adrenaline-pumping steps:
The golden rule:Respect your competitors
Junaid’s mentor, Mr. Nadeem, dropped a bombshell of wisdom: “Respect your competitors, always. Speaking ill of them makes you look weak and insecure.” Fired up with this revelation, Junaid spoke only of his products’ strengths, never badmouthing the competition. This built an ironclad trust and a dazzling reputation with clients.
Become a super-detective
Junaid transformed into a super-spy! He gathered every bit of intel about his competitors—their products, strengths, and weaknesses. He hanged around trade shows, devoured industry reports, and stayed on the cutting edge of their updates. This treasure trove of knowledge made his sales pitches top of the line, always spotlighting the killer benefits of his own products.
Unveil their secrets
Junaid didn’t stop at just knowing the competition—he dissected their uniqueness! He tested their equipment and decoded their marketing magic. During his electrifying presentations, he made genuine, jaw-dropping comparisons that left clients breathless and impressed with his expertise.
Outwork everyone: no pain, no gain
Mr. Nadeem’s mantra was, “There’s no substitute for hard work. Outwork everyone!” Junaid embraced this with all his might. He prepared like a warrior for every sales duel, knowing that relentless hard work would trounce mere luck. After all, sales is a battlefield of nerves, not a game of chance!
Turn competitors’ customers into your allies
Junaid had an out of box plan: visit competitors’ customers regularly. With charm and impeccable politeness, he opened new doors. He respected their choices but revealed his superior services and unique features. This courageous strategy intrigued and won over many, shifting them to Junaid’s camp!
Learn, adapt, and conquer
Junaid was a relentless learner. He studied competitors’ sales tactics, observed how they handled objections, and mastered their closing deals. By absorbing these lessons, he refined his own techniques, always staying a leap ahead.
Innovate or perish
Junaid embraced innovation like a superhero. He relentlessly adapted and improved his offerings, keeping his customers thrilled and attracting new ones through referrals and word of mouth.
The staggering triumph: Junaid’s success
With wisdom, diligence, and an indomitable spirit, Junaid’s sales numbers exploded. He proved that integrity, knowledge, hard work, love and respect are invincible weapons against even the fiercest competitors.
Tragically, Junaid’s heroic journey was cut short by a road accident while he was visiting a customer—a stark reminder of life’s unpredictability. Yet, his legacy blazes on, a beacon of inspiration. Young engineers and entrepreneurs can learn from Junaid’s battle-hardened strategies: true greatness is within reach if you combine relentless hard work, shrewd strategy, and unwavering respect for others.
The ultimate lesson
In the high-stakes world of sales and business, success isn’t about crushing the competition. It’s about perpetual learning, relentless effort, and treating everyone with respect and dignity, including competitors. Aspire to operate from a higher plane, guided by the integrity and tenacity that Junaid embodied.